TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Southern Illinois University Salukis football team secured its third consecutive victory Saturday, dominating Indiana State 55-27 in a Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) matchup. The win improves SIU‘s overall record to 4-1 and its conference record to 1-0.
The Salukis offense proved unstoppable, scoring on each of their opening three drives and amassing 589 total yards. Quarterback Niccolo Williams connected with wide receiver Jay Jones for a 20-yard touchdown on the first drive, while running back RoShawn Chapman rushed for a 39-yard score on the second. Williams added a one-yard rushing touchdown on the third drive, establishing a quick 21-0 lead.
Defensively, Shug Walker and Vontrell Chairse led the team with a game-high 12 tackles each. Walker also contributed 2.0 tackles-for-loss and two pass breakups, while Noah Friedt and Chairse each recorded a sack. Indiana State responded with a 75-yard drive capped by a nine-yard run from Keegan Patterson, but Southern Illinois quickly regained control.
Paul Geelen extended SIU’s lead to 24-7 with a 40-yard field goal early in the second quarter, and later in the quarter, Williams found wide receiver D’Andre davis for an 83-yard touchdown, the Salukis’ longest play of the season. Williams added another rushing touchdown with three yards remaining before halftime, pushing the score to 38-14.
Chapman scored his second touchdown of the game late in the third quarter,and Geelen added two more field goals – a 33-yarder after Wingate’s first-career interception and a 40-yarder earlier in the quarter – bringing the score to 48-20. The Salukis closed out the scoring with an 81-yard run by sophomore running back Isaac Robinson, a career-long rush.
Southern Illinois now prepares for a challenging road game against No. 1 North Dakota State next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Fargo, N.D.
